2016 Democratic Debate Schedule Remains Sparse

For months now, we’ve been hearing the same thing from the Democratic Party with regard to their upcoming 2016 primary debate schedule. What we know so far is that they’ve pledge to sponsor six debates and they will start “in the fall.” Even to this point, that is all the information we have. Over the weekend, DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz appeared on Meet the Press and fielded a question on the topic.

CHUCK TODD: Very quickly, we’re only talking about Republicans debating for the next two months. Why aren’t we seeing Democrats debate over the next two months?

DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: We’re going to be having a robust series of debates, and we’re just finalizing the last few details. You know, our network and organizational partners, and I’ll be announcing our series of debates very soon.

CHUCK TODD: But we’re not going to see them in August or September?

DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: We will be announcing our schedule as soon as we get it finalized. We have committed to six debates. And we’ll have at least one debate in each of the four early primary states.

CHUCK TODD: All right. Chairman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, talking on the Democratic side of the aisle, thanks for coming on this morning.

So that is all the information I can provide. So far there have been no dates and no venues announced other than what Schultz repeated above to Chuck Todd. Please direct your questions and/or complaints to the Democratic National Committee if you’re displeased with the pace at which this debate schedule is developing:

Nate Ashworth is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of Election Central. He's been blogging elections and politics for almost a decade. He started covering the 2008 Presidential Election which turned into a full-time political blog in 2012 and 2016.

9 COMMENTS

Over the weekend, Joe Biden said he’s seriously considering running for president.

I’ve said before that this year feels like 1968,
–when the presumed candidate (LBJ then, Hillary now)
–was saddled with baggage (Vietnam then, Benghazi and emails now)
–was challenged by a very liberal opponent (McCarthy then, Sanders now),
–who surprised people by getting traction (showing strength in early primaries).
–The presumed candidate faded (polls and active support by party leaders),
–so the center-left vice president (Humphrey then, Biden now) got into the race.
–In 1968, Humphrey won.

The only real difference is that there was a “golden boy” waiting in the wings. Right after JFK was murdered, everyone assumed RFK (Bobby) become president, at some point. This year, we have no popular, strong candidate waiting in the wings.

At this point, I’d predict a Joe Biden-Julian Castro ticket for the Dems. Although I think Webb would win in November.

Maybe I’ve been watching too much West Wing, but this might be a very calculated move on their part. The Republicans are about to put 10 candidates – which range from charismatic to rabble-rouser to inflammatory – on national television, and let them duke it out (not to mention the debate for the rest of the candidates that’s going to happen right before). I can easily see this devolving into a disorganized, chaotic shouting match, which can’t possibly be the type of show the RNC is hoping for. Meanwhile, the Dems wait a month, and put on a debate with less than half the number of candidates (unconfirmed, but I can’t imagine that many more people entering the race at this point), allowing them to have a real, organized, thought-provoking discussion about the issues. Maybe this helps pull some moderates to the left? Or maybe I’m just giving them too much credit, and they too are wildly disorganized.